Lawmaker grills Facebook CEO on why Donald Trump Jr. had his account locked — on Twitter
Four of the world's biggest tech CEOs faced a congressional grilling on Wednesday, but let's just say some lawmakers' questions could have used some work.
During the hearing, the heads of Amazon, Apple, Facebook, and Google were questioned by members of Congress who have been conducting an antitrust probe. One notable tech CEO who was missing was Twitter's Jack Dorsey. Still, Rep. James Sensenbrenner Jr. (R-Wis.) may not have gotten the memo about his absence, at one point posing an entire question to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg that only made sense to ask the Twitter boss.
Specifically, Sensenbrenner wanted to know why Donald Trump Jr. recently was locked out of his account for sharing a video containing COVID-19 misinformation related to hydroxychloroquine. But Trump Jr.'s account was locked on Twitter, not on Facebook, as Zuckerberg politely reminded the GOP lawmaker.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"Congressman, well first, to be clear, I think what you might be referring to happened on Twitter," Zuckerberg said. "So it's hard for me to speak to that. But I can talk to our policies about this."
After Sensenbrenner's question, CNN's Oliver Darcy wrote that it's "embarrassing and maddening that a member of Congress would apparently do so little prep before questioning one of the most powerful people on Earth."
Other high (or, rather, low) points of the hearing included one lawmaker demanding the head of Google explain why "my parents, who have a Gmail account, aren't getting my campaign emails," and the hearing itself briefly coming to a halt due to technical difficulties. Brendan Morrow
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
'The double standards don't trouble the critics'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Today's political cartoons - November 22, 2024
Cartoons Friday's cartoons - frozen assets, blazing fires, and more
By The Week US Published
-
How much of a blow is ICC arrest warrant for Netanyahu?
Today's Big Question Action by Hague court damages Israel's narrative that Gaza conflict is a war between 'good and evil'
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Judge blocks Louisiana 10 Commandments law
Speed Read U.S. District Judge John deGravelles ruled that a law ordering schools to display the Ten Commandments in classrooms was unconstitutional
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
ATF finalizes rule to close 'gun show loophole'
Speed Read Biden moves to expand background checks for gun buyers
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Hong Kong passes tough new security law
Speed Read It will allow the government to further suppress all forms of dissent
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
France enshrines abortion rights in constitution
speed read It became the first country to make abortion a constitutional right
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Texas executes man despite contested evidence
Speed Read Texas rejected calls for a rehearing of Ivan Cantu's case amid recanted testimony and allegations of suppressed exculpatory evidence
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Supreme Court wary of state social media regulations
Speed Read A majority of justices appeared skeptical that Texas and Florida were lawfully protecting the free speech rights of users
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Greece legalizes same-sex marriage
Speed Read Greece becomes the first Orthodox Christian country to enshrine marriage equality in law
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump and his lawyer Alina Habba have a rough day in defamation court
Speed Read Trump's audible grousing as E. Jean Carroll testified earned him a warning he could be thrown out of court, and Habba showed she 'doesn't know what the hell she's doing'
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published